Cannabis news roundup: August 7, 2012

(Newsday) // The federal tax court has ruled against San Francisco’s now-closed Vapor Room. It means the business owes thousands of dollars in back taxes – and has wide implications for all dispensaries.

(HuffPost) // In further national news, The US Court of Appeals has agreed to hear arguments for the rescheduling of marijuana, due to therapeutic values.

(HuffPost) // And a Congressional bill sponsored by Representative Sam Farr would allow defendants in federal criminal prosecutions the ability to use medical marijuana evidence at trial.

(SFGate) // In an editorial entitled “California’s pot party is over, ” John Redman of Californians for Drug-Free Youth.

(SFGate) // And in a response to the above editorial, Steve DeAngelo of Harborside Health Center argues that “It never was a party.”

(Americans for Safe Access ) // A “Death of the Dispensaries” funeral march ended at the Federal Building in San Francisco August 1, mourning the passing of The Vapor Room and HopeNet. The facilities opened in 2003 and 2004 and closed the end of July because of threats of asset forfeiture against their landlords.